What Came Out of Nowhere...

Floor 55 of Aincrad, Granzam...

In a restaurant, Wu Yan and Asuna sat facing each other. Though the table before them was filled with all kinds of dishes, neither of them touched a thing. Neither had any appetite right now—or rather, one was lost in thought, while the other impatiently glanced around and kept sighing.

The restaurant was packed with players, with even a line forming outside the entrance. Anyone seeing this would naturally assume the food here was especially delicious and the business thriving, but Wu Yan knew these people had other motives...

Although they sat in groups around table after table, barely any of them had ordered food. Most only had a drink in front of them, looking more like they were having tea than a meal. Every so often, their gazes would drift toward Wu Yan and Asuna. The moment they were noticed, they would quickly look away, only to sneak another glance not long afterward. They were exactly like paparazzi, just not very professional... And their occasional whispered exchanges gave away why they were doing this...

"Is that Spirit Swordsman Wu Yan and Flash Asuna...?"

"Why are those two together...?"

"Could they be on a date...?"

"No way. Spirit Swordsman just defeated the commander of the Blood Pledge Knights. Lady Asuna is the Vice Commander of the Blood Pledge Knights. Would she really go on a date with someone who defeated her commander...?"

"Could she be looking to settle the score...?"

"I think she's more likely gathering information about the enemy..."

"But why does it feel like they're on a date...?"

"N-No way... Lady Asuna... How could she go on a date with another man...?"

"That's Spirit Swordsman Wu Yan, the strongest player. Do you think he's some nobody? I'd say Lady Asuna was probably won